The Gatehouse wall experienced a “partial spalling” on Monday, as students were informed by campus-wide announcement. The incident occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m., and campus police and facilities responded almost immediately.
At the time the break in the wall developed, Robert Maffia, Stevens’ Vice President for Facilities and Campus Operations, was leaving the Babbio Center and heard the stone fall, initially believing it to be a fire due to dust propelled into the air that looked like smoke. Thankfully, nobody was injured, and safety mechanisms were set up immediately to prevent further damage.
After the incident occurred, caution tape and eventually a barricade were established around the perimeter of the Gatehouse. The western gateway and the stairwell to River Lot were both closed off as a result. Luckily, the same company that is managing the scaffolding outside of the Babbio Center was available to assist.
According to Maffia, scaffolding was not set up immediately due to the heavy rain and winds, but was set up once the weather cleared around 2 p.m. in the afternoon. In addition, Union Stone, a company the school uses for façade and masonry services, was called to put up bracing around the Gatehouse to prevent further damage and collapse.
Maffia said, “I don’t know if it was caused by the driving rain, or the wind, or if it was just time to go,” referring to the age of the Gatehouse, which was initially constructed in 1835. The final cause of the spalling has yet to be determined. An engineer was called in to investigate, and is expected to deliver a report some time next week.
Because of the building’s age, it is not clear how it was made, or with what materials. Thus, it may take time to make sure the structure is safe to be in or near. Until then, the scaffolding and barricades will remain up, both to protect pedestrians and to steer vehicles away from accidentally colliding with the scaffolding poles.
The Stevens Police, who are usually stationed in the Gatehouse, were also affected by the incident. They have been moved temporarily to the eighth floor of Howe. Maffia said, however, that if the repairs take longer than expected, the police would need to be moved to a better temporary location. “You want your campus police someplace that is easily accessible and very visible to the students and people on campus. We want them to be a presence.”
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